Italian marines case: Key developments so far

The Indian government has been left red in its face. Literally. Two Italian marines, arrested last year for shooting dead two fishermen from Kerala suspecting them to be pirates, have gone back home without a trial. With the Italian government giving its Indian counterpart a clear, big snub, there’s little hope that they will return to India to face a trial. As outrage grows over the case, we trace how the case unfolded: SC allows marines to go home for Christmas Last December, in a gesture of friendliness, the Supreme Court of India had allowed the two marines - Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone - to go home for Christmas. The marines returned to India after the break. [caption id=“attachment_658527” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The two Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone. AP[/caption] Home again, ever to return? But in February this year it was different. The marines again moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to go to Italy to vote in the national elections that were to be held on February 24-25 national elections. The Supreme Court granted them permission. While they were supposed to return to India post the vote, on 11 March, the Italian government issued a statement saying the marines would not return to India. MEA summons Italian Ambassador The Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini. According to an official release, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told the Ambassador to convey India’s protest to the Italian government. “Italy was obliged to return the two marines as per the undertaking given to the Supreme Court.” Lawyer for Italian marines refuses to defend them Lawyer Harish Salve has refused to defend the Italian marines calling it a ‘breach of trust’. In a statement issued, Salve said, “I consider this action of the Republic of Italy as a breach of faith. It is my perception that the Italian Government should have, in the least, forewarned its Indian lawyers of the change of its position before communicating it to the Government of India.” Kerala CM to meet PM Manmohan Singh Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is slated to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today in Delhi. Chandy said in a press conference: “You should see the earnestness in how Kerala pursued this case in the… courts and also in the apex court in the country. Our stand remains the same that they should stand trial here according to the Indian law.” Lok Sabha takes up issue Speaker Meira Kumar has decided to take up the issue later in the day after the Opposition broke out in protest at the Lok Sabha and Manmohan Singh gave his statement. “I share the concern of the house in this matter. We are ready to discuss the matter at a suitable time,” Singh said. Leader of Opposition Sushma Sawaraj called the incident a ‘diplomatic send-off’, probably suggesting that the entire episode was staged. Can SC take action against Italian ambassador? Technically, the Italian marines had asked the Supreme Court for a four-week leave. So the government can still try and get the Italian marines back to India to face trial. However, if they don’t manage to, the Supreme Court can summon the Italian Ambassador, who stood guarantor for the marines, to explain his stand. If the Ambassador claims diplomatic immunity, media reports suggest that the Indian government can send him back to his country.